Biography

Irish pianist Niall Kinsella is fast establishing himself as one of the most exciting and busiest accompanists of his generation. Niall is a graduate of the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and completed a Masters in Music Performance (Piano) at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin in 2014. In Summer 2017, he studied at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Baden-bei-Wien, an International Master Course for Lied Interpretation. He also attained a BMus degree from University College Dublin, an MA in Music from Maynooth University, and holds a Higher Diploma in Music Education from Griffith College Dublin. He began is early musical studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama studying piano, flute and musicianship.

Since 2009, he has been on the staff of Maynooth University Music Department as a répétiteur and piano teacher. He has accompanied lieder masterclasses internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Ann Murray, Richard Stokes, Professor of Lieder at the Royal Academy of Music, London; mezzo-soprano Alison Browner.

Niall’s collaborations with choirs have included, most recently, a tour to Spain accompanying the Webern-Kammerchor der MDW (Vienna), concerts with award-winning Irish chamber choir, Tribal and RTÉ ConTempo Quartet. In 2016, he was appointed répétiteur to RTÉ Cór na nÓg, children’s choir of the national broadcasting service, with whom he performed and recorded, and has also been engaged by the Association of Irish Choirs to accompany Dr. Doreen Rao’s conducting masterclasses and in concerts conducted by Maestra Rao.

Also an experienced conductor, Niall was selected as RTÉ / Association of Irish Choirs' Conductor in Training for 2014/15, and as part of the programme has worked with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, RTÉ Cór na nÓg, conducted Irish Youth Choir and received coaching from leading international conductors. As director of Carlow Choral Society (Ireland) and Cambiata Ensemble, he conducted works including Mozart's 'Great' Mass in C minor & Exultate Jubilate, Fauré's Requiem, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Durufle’s Requiem, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Haydn’s Stabat Mater, several performances of Handel’s Messiah (for which he was described a ‘rising star’), and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. In April 2016, Niall was a finalist in the ESB Feis Ceoil Conducting Competition (Ireland) and conducted the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Updated: November 2017

Biography not intended for publication. For an up-to-date biography or full CV, please contact Niall directly.